Bracknell 52 Chippenham 24

A second consecutive home game against a team who proved to be a tough nut to crack on the corresponding game at Chippenham. On a dry sunny gusty day, while the previous encounter was very intense, this match was a more open and entertaining affair as the score line will testify.

The opening exchanges favoured Bracknell with much of the play in Chippenham’s 22, the home side had an early opportunity to score with a break by George Milligan, but there was a knock on in front of the posts. Bracknell did score after 7 minutes, the ball was played down the backs line and with a run down the touch line, stopped a penalty was awarded for offside which was kicked to touch, a rolling maul was again stopped and another penalty awarded which sent to touch again. This time the rolling maul was successful, score 5-0, the conversion was missed.

The second try came 5 minutes later following a couple of breaks by Burch, the ball sent down the backs line, Burch scored his first of two tries in the corner, the conversion missed, left the score on 10-0 to the home side.
Two minutes later Chippenham got on the score sheet after gaining the ball from the restart, attacking in Bracknell’s 22 scored under the posts, the conversion good made the 10-7.

Bracknell’s third try came soon after the restart, Chippenham cleared to the home sides 22, a penalty was given for a high tackle after the home sides clearance. The penalty did not make touch, the backs moved the ball out to Bayliss who made his trademark run to the Chippenham 22, Jamie Johnson offloaded the ball to Milligan to score under the posts, the conversion good made the score 17-7.
At this point the Bracknell scrum were starting to win the ball against the put in enabling the home side to mount attacks. Mays made a good run but a penalty was given for not releasing. Again, the Chippenham kick did not make touch, a Bracknell penalty to touch, with the forwards having the ball under control, a maul successfully had the ball sent out wide to Mays who scored, with the conversion good and the bonus point secured Bracknell led 24-7 after 33 minutes.

Bracknell scored again as half-time approached, after another scrum was won against the head, the backs with good hands got the ball out to Burch who scored his second under the posts, conversion good, score 31-7.
Second Half.

With Chippenham now attacking towards the clubhouse end, they appeared to change tactics, playing more to their strengths in the forwards. A try saving tackle by Liam Wood was needed to stop Chippenham. A ruck 5 metres out and good defence resulted in the ball out to the wing to Baylis who ran unopposed the length of the pitch to score in the corner, which Will Field converted from out wide to make the score 38-7.

On 21 minutes into the half, Chippenham scored, a scrum was won by the, they were awarded a penalty for coming on at the side of the break down, the kick to touch was on 7 metres, after a couple of phases, they scored to the right of the posts, the conversion attempt hit the far post after visibly being affected by the wind which was becoming increasingly gusty. Score 38-12.

Bayliss scored his second try on 28 minutes, a Bracknell line out was won, the ball down the backs line, Chippenham managed a turnover, their clearance was gathered by Burch, his huge kick resulted in a line out to the away side, which they won, but following a scrum won by Bracknell, Jake Findlay got the ball out to Bayliss to score. This time it was Bracknell’s turn to hit the post, but the ball went over to make the score 45-12.

At this point it was expected the away side to tire, but they rallied and scored twice in a five-minute spell to secure the try bonus point. The first was converted, the second missed left the score on 45-24.

Bracknell had the final say in the game though, following a Burch attacking run down the wing, he set up Bayliss to score his hat-trick, with the conversion again successful the score was 52-24, the final whistle went soon after.

A well-deserved win by the home side and credit to Chippenham for scoring 4 tries to get the bonus point.
Final score Bracknell 52 (5 points) Chippenham24 (1 point)